Chemical sprayer



Nov. 17, 1931.

FIEE- C. D. SWETT CHEMICAL SPRAYER Filed Feb. 25, 1928 I N VEN TOR Caswe/LDSweff A TTORNE YS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 CASWELL D. SWETT, F REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA CHEMICAL SPRAYER Application filed February 23, 1928. Serial No. 256,096.

My invention relates to a spraying apparatus particularly adapted for use in spraying chemicals on trees, shrubs and plants.

In general, it is the object of my inven tion to provide a chemical sprayer in which a cylinder is divided into two compartments by a reciprocally mounted piston, one compartment of which is discharged b-y simultaneously charging the opposite compart- 1 ment from the water supply main.

Another object of my invention is the pro-- vision of a double acting, portable, vibrating chemical sprayer which may be conveniently operated by means of the water supply line.

35 With these and other objects in view as Will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying draw-. ings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this-specification in which the scope of my invention is to be limited only as defined in my claims and by the prior art.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section taken on the line 22 of Fig.1.

Fig, 3 is a vertical section of one end of my device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section showing the construction of my four-way valve. Fig. 5 is a sect-ion taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. r

Similar characters of reference referto similar parts thruout the several views of the drawings. 7

My device comprises a cylinder 1 in which is reciprocally mounted a rodless piston 2 made of two cup-shaped members 3 and 4 placed back to back and secured togetherby meansof a bolt 5. Both endsof this bolt are 45 provided with conical projections 6 and 7, the purpose of which will be later disclosed. The cylinder 1 is closed at each end by means of cylinder heads 8 and 9, each of which isprovided'with an annular groove 11 for accommodating packing rings 12 and the ends of the cylinder 1. Each cylinder head is also provided with valve seats or openings 12' and 13 in which the conical projections 6 and 7 are adapted .to seat. Communicating with the valve openings 12 and 13 are conduits 14 and 15, preferably cast integral with the cylinder head. Extending inwardly and forming a part of the conduits 14 and 15 are extensions 16 and 17 which are'drilled in order to accommodate the packing rings 18 and 19 and the conduits 21 and 22. Interposed between conduits 21 and 22 is a four-way valve 23 of any well known standard construction and isof such a form that it may be turned to a neutral position. In this neutral position all four of its branches are closed. The combined length of the conduits 21 and 22 and the valve 23 is so chosen as to be substantially equal to the length of the cylinder 1. Each cylinder head is provided with a plurality of apertured cars 24. To hold the cylinder 1, the cylinder heads 8 and 9, the conduits 21 and 22 and valve 23 in their assembled or operating position, rods 25 are passed thru the apertured ears 24 and the nuts 26 proper- 1y tightened thereon. The upper end of each cylinder head is provided with a port 27 which is normally closed by means of a threaded plug 28 and the lower end of each cylinder head is provided with a small valve fitting 29. My device can be made portable by mounting it ona barrow wheel 31 and legs 32 and 33. The wheel 31 is preferably journaledby means of a pin 34 to a pair of V- shaped supporting members 35 and 36. The 35 inner legs of members 35 and 36 are rigidly secured'to a semi-circular member 37 which straddles the central portion of the cylinder 1., As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the cylinder 1' is pivotally carried by the semi-circular member 37. This may be done by any convenient means such as by securing to the cylinder a pair of lugs which-carry outwardly extending studs journaled into the end of the semi-circular member. The outer legs of the supporting members 35 and 36 carry a small water motor 38, as best shown in Fig. 5. The water motor 38 drives a cam 39 or any other suitable means 'for engaging the outer end of the cylinder 1 and for causing the cylinder way valve 23 may be directly connected to a branch of the water main. The legs 32 and 33 may be made integral with the supporting members 35 and 36 or rigidly securedthereto. A latch 45 operates to rigidly secure the supporting members 35 and 36 to the cylinder 1 when it is desired to move the apparatus from one place to another. This latch may be of any convenient form such as a hook and eye. Handles43liiaybethreadedly secured to the twoupper rods 25'. A water supply line 41 and a spraying hose 44 are secured to the two remaining opposed termihals of the fourway valve 23'.

The operation oli-my device, is as follows:

The four-way valve 23 is adjusted so that water from the water supply line 41 passes thru the conduit "21, the conduit 14 into the left hand bompartnieht of the cylinder 1 therebydrivihg'the piston 2 to the right as shewn '2 and filling the left hand coinpa'rthient. nae: turning the valve to its netitral positioh', wherein the entrance of water under pressure to either of the compartments prohibiteda predetermined amount of water is drawnfromthe left hand end ofthe cylinder by means of the valve fit- 29 into any convenient container of lfnown capacity and the desired amount of chemicals'isinixed therewith. The chemical solution at made then introduced into the left hand compartment "of theeylinder lby the left endfpoitf27. The port 27 is closed and then the: valve '23 is adjusted togthe po-sitiohs'hownin dottedlin'es in Fig. 4. With the valve s'o adjusted the water from the water-supply fli 'ne flows thru the "conduit 22 conduit 15 into the right hand end offthe cylinder 1 thereby driying the pistdn 2 toward the left, filling the right hand end ofthe cylinder and discharging the ehemieal solution in "the left compartment of the cylinder 1 thrufthe conduits 14 and '21,tlirutl1 evalve '23'into thespray hose 44.

At the end of this stroke the conical proj'ection '6 is'seated in the valve opening 12 thereby closing the conduit '14. After turnthe valve 23 to its neutral position'a lpredetermined amount of the water contained within the right hand compartment of the I cylinder is drawn out by meansof the right hand valve iitting 29 and ismi'Xed a' predetermined amount of'cher'nicals and then reintroduced to the cylinder by means of -the litind port 27. The four-way valve is-then turned to its original p ositionithereby causing the 'wat'erfrom thewater supply line to drive the piston 2 toward the right, dis charging the chemical solution in the right end compartment thru the conduits 15 and 22, the valve 23 into the spray hose 44. The motor 38 operates the cam 39 to vibrate the cylinder during the time in which the piston 2 is in motion and insures a thorough dis tribution of the chemicals thruout the cylinder.

\ The projections 6 and 7 cooperating with the valve openings 12 and 13 serve to insure that the ends of the cylinder 1 are sealed. The device however Will readily operate without these elements for the cup members 3 and 4 themselves serve to close and seal the ends of the cylinder. I

It will thus be seen'that my spraying apparatus is a double acting one, that is, one in which the chargin of one end of the cylinder causes a discharge of its opposite end and one in which the water used to charge one end or advance the'pis't-on isused' as a solvent for the chemicals. With the fourway valve in 'one 'nosition, w 'ater flows from the water supply line into one end 'of'the cylinder and simultaneously the solution contained within the other end of the cylinder-is being;- discharged therefrom thru the spray nozzle. With the four'way valve in reverse position the water from the water supply line enters the opposite end or the cylinder and discharges the chemical solution contained in the other end. It will be noted that with the piston in one of it's limiting positions.

the volume of lluid which maybe contained 1 within the cylinder is *consta'nt'thereby insuring that a solution of a given strength maybe contained therein. By the above construction ofthe cylinder head and the means which I employ to hold my device in assembled position, it can be very economically manufactured and at the 'sametiine provides a very efficiently operated sprayer. The v ibiating featnre of'the device insures'that in the event the chemicals 'usedare merelyheld 1 in suspension instead of goi ngfinto'solution they will be evenly distributed turnout the cylinder. \Vhein the chemicals'used go into solution,'the vibratormaybe-dispensed with.

"a four 'w'aywalve interposed between said conduits, afluid motor mo'uiited on 5 the frame "adjacent "one end of the cylinder, vibrating means driven by the'mot'o'r "for agitating the cylinder,a fluid inlet connec'tidnbetween the I mdto'r and valve,'-an'd-a discharge'connection for i he valve. 1

2. In a} sprayer, a cylinder, a imovable {pisron drv dmg the cylinder into two 1 compartments of substantially predetermined total "volume, valve means adap'tedtobe' connected 139 to a source of fluid under pressure, spraying means, conduit means connecting the valve means to. each compartment of the cylinder and to the spraying means arranged so that when fluid under pressure is admitted to one compartment fluid in the. other compartment is ejected through the spray means, each of said compartments including ports adapted for the passage of fluid arranged so that the predetermined quantity of fluid metered in one compartment during ejection of the fluid in the other compartment can be withdrawn for mixing with spray material and can be returned for ejection when said other compartment is connected by the valve means to the source of fluid under pressure, means for positioning the cylinder and for supporting the cylinder for movementrwith respect to the positioning means, and motor means operable from said source of fluid under pressure for moving the cylinder to agitate spraying material therein.

3. In a sprayer, a cylinder, a four Way valve adapted to be connected to a source of 1 fluid under pressure, conduits connecting opposite ends of the cylinder with the valve, means for spraying fluid from the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder dividing the cylinder into two compartments, the four way valve being manually operable to admit fluid under pressure to one compartment to force the piston to eject fluid in the other compartment through the spraying means, means for withdrawing fluid from either compartment so that it may be mixed with spray material, and means for enabling the return of fluid to the compartment, the valve being movable to a neutral position in which the piston is substantially free of fluid pressure so that the fluid maybe withdrawn, mixed with spray material and returned to the compartment for spraying.

4:. In a sprayer, a cylinder, a movable piston dividing the cylinder into two compartments of substantially predetermined total volume, valve means adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure, spraying means, and conduit means connecting the valve means to each compartment of the cylinder and to the spraying means arranged so that when fluid under pressure is admitted to one compartment fluid in the other compartment is ejected through the spray means, each of said compartments including ports adapted for the passage of fluid arranged so that the predetermined quantity of fluid metered in one compartment during ejection of the fluid in the other compartment can be withdrawn for mixing with spray material and =1 can be returned for ejection when said other compartment is connected by the valve means to the source of fluid under pressure.

5. In a sprayer, a cylinder, a piston dividing the cylinder into two compartments,

-;. spraying means, valve means for optionally connecting either one of said compartments with a fluid under pressure and the other compartment with the spraying means, and means enabling the Withdrawal of fluid from said one compartment and the subsequent insertion therein of material for ejection through the spraying means upon connection of said other compartment with the fluid under pressure.

6. In a portable sprayer, a support including a frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame,

spraying means, a conduit connected with each head of the cylinder, a four way valve interposed between said conduits and adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and to said spraying means, a free piston within the cylinder separating the cylinder into two compartments variable in capacity by movement of the piston, and means connected with each end of the cylinder whereby fluid in one of the compartments of the cylinder may be withdrawn and the compartment charged with chemicals to be discharged through the said spraying means.

7 In a portable sprayer, a support including a frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a conduit connected with each head of the cylinder, valve means connected to said conduits and to a source of fluid under! pressure, a free piston within the cylinder separating the cylinder into two compartments variable in capacity by movement of the piston, and means independent of said conduits connected with each end of the cylinder whereby fluid in one of the compartments of the cylinder may be withdrawn and the compartment charged with chemicals to be sprayed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CASWELL D. SWETT. 

